CHRI – Iranian state TV aired a forced confession by Ahmadreza Djalali because he wrote in a letter that he was imprisoned in Iran for refusing to spy for the Intelligence Ministry, according to his wife. The footage was recorded while he was held under extreme duress in solitary confinement and after he was threatened that his kids would be …
Read More »Monthly Archives: December 2017
Will Tehran be able to withstand ‘long overdue’ quake?
Al-Monitor – Is an earthquake likely to occur in Tehran? What will happen if there is an earthquake in Tehran? These questions have recently been discussed in Iranian media and among the public in the aftermath of the earthquake in the west of the country in November. In response to these questions, Iranian experts and officials warn that a possible …
Read More »Iranians furious over rumors of 70% increase in MP salaries
Al-Monitor – Amid speculation about an increase in gasoline prices in Iran, reports of a 70% surge in the salaries of parliament members have infuriated both public opinion and the media. President Hassan Rouhani recently presented his budget bill to parliament for the next Iranian year (beginning in March) — a budget that faced serious criticism for dramatic increases in …
Read More »Hurry up! Yalda Night is right around the corner
PayvandNews – Children chasing each other; mothers setting out dried nuts, pomegranates and watermelons amongst other fine foodstuffs; and fathers watching a ball game amid all! Does this sound familiar? Well, this is a glimpse of the Yalda celebration in honor of the longest night of the year! Read related article by Ghanoon daily On that graceful night the winter chill is vanquished and …
Read More »Air pollution shuts schools, cancels sports events in Iran’s big cities
PayvandNews – Schools have been closed on Tuesday in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Urmia, and Arak and sports events have been cancelled as a result of heavy air pollution. Schools have been closed on Tuesday in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Urmia, and Arak and sports events have been cancelled as a result of heavy air pollution. Urmia in northwestern Iran The authorities …
Read More »Tehran Prosecutor Ignores Imprisoned Iranian-Austrian Businessman’s Request for Back Operation
CHRI – The Tehran prosecutor has ignored a request by imprisoned Iranian-Austrian dual national Kamran Ghaderi for an urgent back operation, his wife told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). “Kamran has been suffering from a herniated spinal disk for a long time and now constant neck pain has been added to his problems as well,” said Harika …
Read More »Iran’s Royan Institute clones Murciana goat
PayvandNews – Scientists at Iran’s Royan Research Institute has succeeded in producing the country’s third cloned goat belonging to Murcia-Granada breed of goat. Dr. Mahdi Hajian, Head of Embryology Department at Isfahan Campus of Royan Research Institute, made the announcement asserting “following successful cloning of Saanen and Alpine goats, we sought to clone a third one from Murcia-Granada breed.” Imported …
Read More »‘I get threats, I get sworn at’: Iran’s taboo-busting female standup star
Guardian – Zeynab Mousavi has found fame in country where standup comedy is relatively new and where being a female performer is frowned upon i Zeynab Mousavi: ‘The most difficult thing is to go on stage and tell viewers that I’m not [performing as] a woman, nor an Iranian, nor a Muslim, I’m not even pretty, nothing,. I’m just a …
Read More »Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad Battling With Powerful Judiciary
RFL/RE – Iran’s chief prosecutor says authorities will soon issue an “appropriate” response to an ultimatum made by former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to the country’s powerful judiciary. Prosecutor-General Hojatoleslam Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said on December 18 that the judiciary will issue its response to Ahmadinejad “within a day or two.” Ahmadinejad issued a 48-hour deadline for the judiciary on December …
Read More »Iran Says Trump Cannot Cause Collapse of Nuclear Deal
VOA – Iran said on Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump cannot cause its nuclear deal with six major powers to collapse. “The nuclear deal will not collapse… Those who hope that Trump will cause its collapse, are wrong,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on State TV. In October, Trump declined to certify that Iran was …
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